OPENING TOUCH: Dixie State will look to gain their second win of the year Saturday against WAC preseason favorite, Seattle University. The Trailblazers are coming off their first Division I win in program history last weekend at Incarnate Word. Idris Alabi netted two goals in the win and currently leads the WAC in goals (3) and points (6) on the year. Saturday's match is set for a 2 p.m. start time at Greater Zion Stadium.
Live stats and video information for all matches can be found at www.dixiestateathletics.com.
TICKETS: There will be a limited amount of game day tickets open to the public for all men's soccer home games. Fans in attendance will need to wear a mask and maintain social distancing practices. Tickets can be purchased ahead of time at dsutix.com.
ENTERING THE WAC: Dixie State enters its first season of Division 1 as a member of the Western Athletic Conference. Dixie State is originally scheduled to play an 11-game schedule including one non-conference game and 10 conference games.
DIXIE STATE VS. THIS WEEK'S OPPONENTS: Dixie State has never taken on Seattle and will look to gain their first win against the new WAC opponent.
KNOW YOUR FOE: Seattle is currently 2-1-1 and coming off a 1-1 split against UNLV last weekend. The Redhawks were picked as the preseason favorite for the 2021 season receiving nine first place votes. Sophomore forward James Morris, senior midfielder Noe Meza, senior defenseman Alex Acton-Petrontis and junior goalkeeper Akili Kasim were named to the All-WAC Preseason Team. The Redhawks are coming off a 15-3-5 season in 2019 that included a trip to the second round of the Men's College Cup where they lost to #7 Stanford.
COACHING STAFF: Jonny Broadhead (Colorado State-Pueblo, 2004) is in his fourth season as Dixie State head coach. Broadhead has a 30-24-3 overall record at Dixie State. He has led the program to 10 or more wins in two of his three seasons at the helm.
Broadhead has brought with him assistant coach Bradley Trella.
TRAILBLAZERS PICKED ELEVENTH IN THE WAC: Dixie State was voted to finish 11th in the WAC men's soccer preseason coaches' poll released on January 27. Seattle U was picked first with nine first place votes. Utah Valley was picked second with one first place votes.
LAST SEASON IN THE RMAC: The 2019 season will mark the final season the Trailblazers will be a competing member of the RMAC. The Trailblazers closed the 2019 regular season with two more victories. DSU opened the weekend with that 2-0 road result at Westminster, before the Blazers extended their regular season-ending win streak to four-straight with a dramatic 3-1 triumph over Colorado Christian on Senior Day Sunday at Trailblazer Stadium. DSU
TEAM NOTES: Dixie State's 11 victories in 2019 marks the fourth season in the program's NCAA-era that the Trailblazers have reached double digits in wins ... two of those have been under head coach Jonny Broadhead.
The Trailblazers are now 91-103-20 all-time since joining the NCAA ranks in 2008.
SEASON KICKOFF: Dixie State is 4-7-1 in season openers in the NCAA era. They are also 3-4-1 in season openers at home. They are also 1-3-0 when starting a season on the road.
2020 PREVIEW: Dixie State returns seven starters and 15 letter winners from last season's 11-8-1.
DSU welcomes back just two seniors in Michael Cardenas and Jandir Porta. The Trailblazers have 11 juniors and five sophomores on the squad this year. Dixie State is also welcoming 15 new freshman to the team this year.
UP NEXT: The Trailblazers head to Orem, UT on March 13 to take on Utah Valley University for the men's soccer portion in the renewed 'Old Hammer' rivalry. DSU will then come back to St. George for a matchup with Houston Baptist on March 20.
